vamp

¹ American  

[vamp] / væmp /

noun

1. the portion of a shoe or boot upper that covers the instep and toes.

2. something patched up or pieced together.

3. Jazz. an accompaniment, usually improvised, consisting of a succession of simple chords.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a vamp, especially to repair (a shoe or boot) with a new vamp.

2. to patch up; repair.

3. to give (something) a new appearance by adding a patch or piece.

4. to concoct or invent (often followed byup ).

   He vamped up a few ugly rumors to discredit his enemies.

5. Jazz. to improvise (an accompaniment or the like).

verb (used without object)

1. Jazz. to improvise an accompaniment, tune, etc.

vamp ² American  

[vamp] / væmp /

noun

1. a seductive woman who uses her sensuality to exploit men.

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verb (used with object)

1. to use feminine charms upon; seduce.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a vamp.

vamp ¹ British  

/ væmp /

noun

1. something patched up to make it look new

2. the reworking of a theme, story, etc

3. an improvised accompaniment, consisting largely of chords

4. the front part of the upper of a shoe

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verb

1. to give a vamp to; make a renovation of

2. to improvise (an accompaniment) to (a tune)

vamp ² British  

/ væmp /

noun

1. a seductive woman who exploits men by use of her sexual charms

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verb

1. to exploit (a man) in the fashion of a vamp

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• vamper
  noun
• vampish
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of vamp¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English va(u)mpe, wamp(e), from Anglo-French; Middle French avant-pie, equivalent to avant- “fore-” + pie “foot” ( French pied); see avaunt, -ped

Origin of vamp²

First recorded in 1905–10; short for vampire

Explanation

A vamp is an attractive, dangerously flirtatious woman. A vamp in an old movie might wear tight clothes and bright red lipstick. The noun vamp is somewhat old fashioned, implying a woman who uses her charisma and beauty to charm men into doing what she wants them to do. You can also use it as a verb, meaning to tease or flirt, especially in a showy and manipulative way. The word came into use in the early 1900's, from vampire. Some experts connect the first use of vamp with the role of "The Vampire" in the 1915 movie "A Fool There Was."

Example Sentences

The former Australian Paralympic swimmer wanted to vamp up her headshot and uploaded a full-length photo of her and prompted it really specifically that she was missing her left arm from below the elbow.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

From the snarling title track opener to the tricky-timed, Spanish-language “Yo Me Estreso” and B-52’s worthy vamp “Resolution/Revolution,” their songs take big new swings and land pretty much all of them.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2024

“Warning Sign” could have been an easygoing R&B vamp, but Jadagu has other imperatives; the song coos with keyboard chords and airborne harmonies, then crashes or glitches.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2023

Why they're a standout: Sure, Kirsten Dunst played the scene-stealing child vamp in the big-screen version of Anne Rice's novel, but Bass makes this Claudia her own.

From Salon • Dec. 26, 2022

Then she dodged away, and I had to chase her around the cairn, both of us laughing, Emma ducking out of view only to pop up again and vamp for the camera.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Related Words

• enchantress
• seductress
• temptress